Feeding Families

17/06/2026

To celebrate Refugee Week, Ruth spent the afternoon with Newcastle City Council’s Refugee, Transitions and Integration Team and the NUFC Foundation, who are working together to deliver a free family event for Refugee Week.

The event aims to create a welcoming, fun and informative space where people can come together, build connections and celebrate the contributions of refugees within our communities.

As part of the day, Ruth had the opportunity to speak with a range of organisations and people seeking refuge, helping us better understand where support is most needed and ensuring our provision reaches those who need it most.

16/06/2026

📢 BOOK YOUR SPACE: Free Event:

Childhood Matters – Tackling Poverty in the North East, in partnership with North East Chamber of Commerce.

With 1 in 3 children in the North East living in poverty, families across our region are continuing to face impossible choices between food, heating, and other essentials.

Join Feeding Families, the North East Chamber of Commerce, policymakers, business leaders, and community organisations for an important regional conversation around child poverty, holiday hunger, food insecurity, and the role we can all play in creating lasting change.

📅 Wednesday 24th June 2026
⏰ 10am – 12pm
📍 Feeding Families HQ, Blaydon

We’ll be joined by guest speakers including:

Professor Greta Defeyter OBE
Andrew Forsey (Feeding Britain)
Dr Jessie Kelly-Baxter (NECC)
Wayne Dobson (Feeding Families)

The event will explore:
✨ The reality of child poverty in the North East
✨ Holiday hunger and its impact on families
✨ Insights from policy, research, and frontline delivery
✨ The role of business in driving change
✨ Practical action and collaboration

Refreshments will also be prepared by the talented catering students at College.

This is more than a conversation - it’s an opportunity to come together, share insight, and help shape a future where no child goes hungry.

Register here: https://www.feedingfamilies.org.uk/get-involved/events/childhoodmatters/

Email: [email protected] for any enquiries

📌 Please note: You do not need to be a Chamber member to attend. When prompted to log in, simply enter your email address and follow the registration step

15/06/2026

💜

"I want families across the North East to know that this summer, help is there. No referrals needed. Just reach out and we'll do the rest. That's what this appeal is about."
Wayne Dobson, CEO, Feeding Families

No forms. No bureaucracy. No jumping through hoops. Just practical, dignity-first support for families across the North East this summer.

Over 1 in 3 children in the North East live in poverty. When free meals stop, the pressure builds.

This appeal exists to make sure no family faces that alone.

Every donation until 19th July is being matched pound for pound thanks to our supporters including AtkinsRéalis and Leonard Curtis.

Your £15 becomes £30. Your kindness goes twice as far. 🌟

👉 Donate and double your impact:
https://www.feedingfamilies.org.uk/our-summer-appeal-is-back-childhood-matters-ending-holiday-hunger/?form=endholidayhunger

14/06/2026

A child doesn't experience poverty as a statistic.

They experience it as an empty fridge.

A parent saying "not today."

Missing out on school trips, birthday parties, or the simple comfort of knowing what's for tea.

At Feeding Families, we know there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution.

That's why our support goes beyond a standard food parcel.

Some families need emergency food support after a sudden crisis. Some need low-cook or no-cook food because they're living in temporary accommodation. Some need culturally appropriate food that reflects their faith and background. Others need support during school holidays when free school meals stop.

We work with over 200 schools, charities, NHS teams, housing providers, and community organisations across the North East to ensure support reaches people quickly, discreetly, and with dignity.

Because whilst the statistic is shocking, the solution starts with something simple:

Making sure help is available when it's needed most.

💛 If you'd like to support our Childhood Matters: End Holiday Hunger appeal, every donation is currently being matched, helping twice as many children and families this summer.

https://www.feedingfamilies.org.uk/our-summer-appeal-is-back-childhood-matters-ending-holiday-hunger/?form=endholidayhunger

14/06/2026

When you shop local, everyone wins.

Local businesses thrive, Feeding Families can support more people in crisis, and communities grow stronger together.

If your local shop runs a community support scheme, nominate Feeding Families or ask the store manager to consider us – every vote helps raise our profile, reaching more people who need help and more people who want to help.

If you do nominate us or speak to your local store, we'd love to hear from you. Please reach out and let us know 💜

11/06/2026

We’re delighted to announce that the Mayor of Sedgefield, Ciaran Butterworth has chosen Feeding Families as her Charity of the Year.

Over the coming year, the Mayor will be supporting our work through fundraising activities, food collections and community engagement, helping us reach more individuals and families facing hardship across the North East.

Partnerships like this are incredibly important. Every donation, food collection and fundraising event helps ensure that people experiencing crisis can access practical support with dignity, compassion and hope.

We are grateful for the Mayor’s commitment to standing alongside local communities and helping raise awareness of the growing challenges many families continue to face.

Thank you to the Mayor and everyone at Sedgefield Town Council for choosing to support Feeding Families. We look forward to working together over the coming year to make a meaningful difference.

Read more about the Mayor’s chosen charity here: https://www.sedgefieldtowncouncil.gov.uk/mayors-headline-charity-feeding-families/

FoodSupport StrongerTogether

10/06/2026

The holidays are closer than you think..

In just a few weeks, school gates will close across the North East. Sadly for many children that does not means freedom, fun and long summer days. For families already facing impossible choices, it means something harder.

No free school meals. No routine. Just the pressure of making ends meet with even less support than usual.

This summer, our Holiday Hunger Appeal is back to make sure no child goes hunrgy this summer 💜

Our Childhood Matters: End Holiday Hunger appeal is raising funds for Holiday Hunger Packs, emergency food and dignity-first support for families who need it most. All donations are matched thanks to our supporters, including AtkinsRéalis and Leonard Curtis.

Your £15 becomes £30.
Your kindness goes twice as far.

No child should spend their summer worrying about food. Help us make sure they don't. ☀️

👉 Donate and double your impact:
https://www.feedingfamilies.org.uk/our-summer-appeal-is-back-childhood-matters-ending-holiday-hunger/?form=endholidayhunger

09/06/2026

Volunteer Month Celebrations Continue! 💜

We know Volunteer Week was last week, but we love our volunteers so much that we’re celebrating all month long!

This week, we enjoyed a fantastic volunteer swap visit to

We met their wonderful volunteer team and spent a lovely day exploring the beautiful grounds together.

Although our organisations do very different things, we discovered plenty of common ground. It was inspiring to hear what motivates people to volunteer, the experiences they’ve gained, and the difference they make in their communities.

We’re delighted that one of our volunteers has signed up to spend a day each week volunteering with them, and we’re equally excited that some of their volunteers have expressed an interest in joining our team too.

Next week it’s their turn to visit us! While our packing centre might not be quite as picturesque as Gibside, we’re incredibly proud of the work that happens there every day and can’t wait to show them the impact our volunteers make.

Thank you to all our amazing volunteers – this month, and every month, we celebrate you! 💜

09/06/2026

We were delighted to have you join us and are so grateful for your support.

Events like this are only possible because of the incredible organisations, businesses and individuals who believe in the power of community and connection 🫶🏼

A huge thank you to Feeding Families for inviting us to be part of their Women Who Rise 2026 event. It was an honour to attend and sponsor a table alongside so many other fantastic organisations and individuals.

We were privileged to spend the day listening to powerful speakers and celebrating the achievements of women across the North East. The conversations throughout the day were truly inspiring.

We're proud to have supported an event that brings women together and highlights the power of community and connection. 🤝🌸

07/06/2026

✨ The Pure Imagination Ball ✨

Our flagship fundraising event is fast approaching, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

At Feeding Families, we provide food support to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity, working closely with our charity partners across the North East.

That’s why this event means so much to us.

Because everyone deserves the chance to step into their imagination.

Everyone deserves moments of wonder, joy and excitement. A chance to forget the pressures of everyday life, embrace the impossible, and be immersed in something magical.

That’s exactly what we’re creating.

This year’s Pure Imagination Ball is going to be unlike anything we’ve done before.

We’re working with the incredibly talented creative students at gatesheadcollege, who are helping bring our vision to life through immersive experiences, room dressing and so much more.

We’re also delighted to have housing4good on board as our Headline Sponsor, helping us create a truly unforgettable evening.

And it gets even better…

The event experience is being brought to life alongside the fantastic team at jceventsltd. If you’ve ever attended one of their events before, you’ll know exactly why we’re so excited.

Whether you’re looking for a memorable night out, a unique corporate event, or simply another way to support Feeding Families, we’d love for you to join us.

🎟 Tickets now available
🍽 Tables available
⭐ Sponsorship opportunities still available

Every ticket purchased helps us continue providing food support to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity across the North East through our charity partners.

This isn’t just another charity ball.

And we’d love for you to be part of it.

🔗 Tickets, tables and sponsorship details can be found via the link below.

https://www.feedingfamilies.org.uk/get-involved/events/pure-imagination-ball/